Australia and Nepal Coordinate Rescue After Floods Kill 930

Devastating flash floods and landslides along the border of Nepal and Tibet have killed at least 930 people and left more than 4,400 missing. The disaster has impacted hundreds of foreign nationals, including 591 people who have lost contact with authorities or families. Among the missing are two Dutch citizens, Maaike Moolhuijsen and Christiaan Berghuis, who were part of an 80-person pilgrimage to Mount Kailash organized by the Isha Foundation.

Penny Wong, the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister and Acting Prime Minister, reported that 43 Australians remain missing, with nine located on the Chinese side of the border. To support recovery efforts, the Australian government provided $8 million in aid and pledged to match $2 million in public donations. The Royal Australian Air Force is deploying aircraft to deliver solar lights, hygiene kits, and shelter to the region.

Recovery operations remain difficult as authorities engage with the governments of Nepal and China to locate survivors. The Isha Foundation stated its last contact with the Mount Kailash pilgrimage leaders occurred nine minutes before the flood, and reports suggest a building used by the group may have been destroyed by a landslide.